What does Amy Winehouse, victims of the current famine in the Horn of Africa, Michael Jackson, and a rape victim from Libya all have in common? They, among others, are the target for what is becoming a common source of pleasure and entertainment for many, and the opportunity for others to spew forth their own unique brand of virtual psychological and emotional terrorism, and that is, “The Comment”.
Almost everywhere you navigate online, facebook, You Tube, forums, discussion threads, news articles, or blogs, there is nearly always an opportunity for the reader to leave a comment, and it is here on this platform that we have an insight into the hearts and minds of those leaving their comments.
And an ugly picture is emerging; one of a sector of humanity, which has lost the ability to be humane, to be empathetic, to feel love, to show compassion, and to forgive. But, perhaps I am over-generalizing. Would it be better to say that a picture is emerging of a sector of humanity, of a society that is full of anger, cruelty and hate, and with an attitude of, “I don’t give a damn as long as it doesn’t affect my life”; an attitude of complacency and of living in a “bubble” mentality? Still over-generalizing? Too harsh? Unsubstantiated? Unfounded? A tad too critical and self-righteous? Allow me then, to let you be the judge.
Upon hearing that Amy Winehouse had died, I went to Youtube to revisit her marvelous voice and talent that had not been given a chance to reach its full potential. Death has an insidious tendency to cut short life, and Amy’s was indeed, taken from her much too soon. The world already knew of Amy’s demons and the battle she fought to exorcise them. That took courage to do, especially when she was faced with the knowledge that the eyes of the media were watching, and waiting for her to stumble and fall, providing more fodder for their hungry readers. While a lot of comments I read praised Amy for her fight and showed compassion, many more degraded and ridiculed her, in a torrent of senseless and venomous hate.
“It was her own fault she died early, shouldn't of been a crack head who had needle holes in her toes!, if you saw a heroin addict outside a shop with a good voice and died of an overdose the next week, would you say she died too early, or would you say it’s her own fault? Think about that for a second”.
“She was a Drug addict, she’s not a victim. You guys are f***ing idiots if you think she’s some poor girl. Why don’t you look up the videos of her smoking crack before you support someone who endorses a lifestyle like that”.
“ADDICTS = BIG STINKING CRAPS !!! ADDICTS = BIG STINKING CRAPS !!!
“Let’s face it all she was ... was a smack head and a p**s head she had her chances to get clean and she didn’t, so I have no sympathy”!
“I'm actually very ok with her perishing, I mean one more drug addict off the streets it's not a bad thing, I bet most people pass thru junkies and/or hobos and speak very bad things about them so I don't know what is so different from her (besides she sings woopdi doo!)”
And the icing on the cake….
“Not enough money in the world for her sick lust for meth. She shoulda just ended it by drinking windshield wiper. Then maybe the world would be spared by her screeching that she calls singing. Coincidentally, she was probably singing on screech. LULZ”!
So, now let us proceed to the current famine crisis in the Horn of Africa, particularly, Somalia. Just speaking the word Somalia, for some, leaves a bitter after-taste in the mouth, because for Americans, emotions run deep and memories are long over events that occurred in Mogadishu on October 3, 1993. I can understand this, for what took place that day touched the world with the same feelings of outrage and horror. But, you cannot blame a whole nation for the actions of a few.
The people of Somalia are poor, and have been trying to survive in a country plagued by years of conflict. They are farmers and herdsmen for the most part, struggling to make a living, and a way to feed their families on a land that is as unyielding and relentlessly brutal as the conflict that surrounds them. Thousands flee to refugee camps, sometimes facing conditions not much better than from the ones they escaped from, and often leaving behind their children, who have been taken by rebels to train as soldiers in their army. Now, they are in the grip of the worst famine in nearly twenty years, and we see images of children with huge eyes and skeletal little bodies; their mothers weeping and praying for someone to save the life of their child. Aid has been slow to reach them because of the conflict, and what aid has been sent, falls far short of what is needed to effectively counter the hunger crisis.
I have read many articles pertaining to the famine, and comments left by some, have been particularly cruel and ugly.
“Oh well not my problem....... I don’t live in Africa”.
“When I get the urge to contribute, I think of how much these people hate people like me and the urge goes away”.
“Not only do I not care, but I am pleading for people to ignore their calls for help. Yes, someone is still bitter over the Black Hawk Down thing”.
“Let nature run its course.....stop sending food, financial aid (money pit), send birth control”!!!!
“I actually like watching people suffer”.
And the winner is….
“F*** THEM LET STARVE!!! Or better yet let the n****r rapists and basketball players and all the other n*****s with money feed them”.
Now, enter Michael Jackson, who was and still is, relentlessly pursued by a media determined to pry into every detail of his life, to dissect his every word and action, to publically put him on display as a “freak” and “weirdo”, to twist and manipulate every grain of truth, to portray him as a monster, pedophile, and drug addict, all for a juicy headline and a fat paycheck at the end of the week.
For most of his talented and brilliant life, Michael Jackson has been the target of hate, jealousy, prejudice, and ridicule, and even death has not saved his name and legacy from this continuous assault. The fire started long ago by tabloid reporters looking to gain a name for themselves in a business that had once been founded on integrity and truth, and continually fanned by die-hard supporters of sensationalistic headlines, is still being stoked by pens that should have run out of ink long ago.
“What happened? Why is this molester still on YouTube? Huh”!
“Yay... The KING OF THE PEDOPHILES is dead. Little boys around the world, rejoice.. your p***s is now safe”!!!
“It’s funny how people cry over a f****d up guy that was trying to look like a girl and raped little kids”.
“It’s incredible to forget how absolutely normal Michael Jackson looked back in the 70’s and 80’s, attractive even, before turning into the sideshow freak that he became”.
“I wonder how much his nose went for on EBay after his death..... It was still in decent shape, only a couple years old”.
And the pièce de résistance…..
“I was really disappointed last Saturday. I was rafting with some friends and missed Michael's two year anniversary of his death. I just wanted to stop by and say happy anniversary Mike. I hope you are rotting in hell you filthy, drug addicted, and child molesting freak. I hope your final moments were painful as your body was overtaken by the overdose. I hope you choked on your own vomit and felt your insides bloating up. You did it to yourself you fag. No one killed you except you. Trash pedophile”.
Ah, so eloquently penned.
And, lastly, we arrive at the Libyan woman, who burst into a Tripoli hotel where international journalists were based, claiming she had been gang-raped and beaten by Gadhafi’s forces. She has now been granted asylum in the United States.
Again, emotions and memories run deep in the hearts of many, as they remember the events that took place 11 years ago, on 9/11/2000. The act of terror played out on American soil, hit the heart and soul of this country, because no one dreamed, or thought that something like this could ever occur here. Trust turned to suspicion, courage turned to fear, children were educated about national security, and minds and hearts were redefined in the days and weeks that followed.
But again, you can’t blame an entire nation, or religion, on the acts of those who choose terrorism as a means to an end. They are not to blame for someone else’s agenda.
“Hilary Clinton needs to be slapped and removed from office for letting another freeloader into our country to live off our system”.
“Just what we need another lying asylum seeker from a terrorist country that the American taxpayers will be taking care of for years to come along with all her relatives that will now be given Visas and allowed to immigrate here”.
“Send her back to where the hell she came from. How long will it be before she starts making demands on our government. The last thing we need in this country is more Muslim's. Send her to France. Enough Muslims in our country”.
“While I feel for this woman, once again we will make this woman a celebrity, rich, while people, who have lived and struggled all their lives, will have to listen to her story for the next 6 months. I'm sorry, but send her a** back and save taxpayers a lot of money. Who knows, probably lying anyway. Whatever happened to the wino with the great voice? Probably back on crack, spending the money he made off his 15 minutes of fame”.
“Great. Another terror cell is now set up in the U.S. Why doesn't one of the freaking Muslim countries offer her asylum? She'll be on welfare and at the same time plotting death to the American people”.
And on a scale of 1 to 10, this comment received a zero...
“It would be interesting to find out how many family members she’s got. Probably hundreds. In a way I don’t have a problem with Muslim women seeking asylum. I much prefer that to the tidal wave of young Muslim men invading Europe. Illiterate, criminal scum, with no other reason to migrate than to make Europe’s white people suffer”.
The comments above are just a small proportion of what is really out there, and if you take notice, you will see commenter’s falling into definite patterns and groups.
The hit and run commenter’s are people who sign up on different sites, proceed to run someone over with their particular brand of unsavory words, and then flee the scene without checking for a pulse. They specifically troll the internet to see where they can do the most damage. You see this quite often on social websites such as facebook, You Tube, Twitter, and Topix.
Then, there are commenter’s who enter the room fully-armed, fire at point-blank range, sit back smugly and with a misguided sense of satisfaction, and read the effect their vitriolic and often pointless attack has had on another person. They then engage in verbal warfare with anyone who chooses to fight back, becoming increasingly more hateful with their comments, until they either get bored and move on to their next victim, or are blocked and reported. But, blocking and reporting is little deterrence when one can easily set up another anonymous profile.
And, let’s not forget the comments left to news articles. I will admit that a lot of commenter’s in this arena have constructive and intelligent comments to make. But, things will get heated when discussing sensitive issues, such as politics and religion. It is when you see strong opinions clash with other strong opinions that the sparks will fly and tempers will be lost, and eventually there ensues a melee of mud-slinging. In the quickly disintegrating atmosphere, certain personality types are easily recognized, while others remain hidden behind their strategically, veiled agendas.
Most news sites have moderators, who read each comment that has been submitted before giving the approval for it to be published. If the comments above, and others that I have read made the final cut, I would hate to read the ones that weren’t given approval. I know we have the 1st Amendment in this country, which entitles all people to freedom of speech, but at best, it appears that it is being used as a screen to hide behind while dumping the muck from the bottom of the barrel. Why do people do this? What is their motivation? What are their individual agendas, because what people are bringing to the virtual table, appears to be multi-faceted.
Far from being an expert on this, my guess is as good as the next person’s, but, three distinct groups of commenter’s are emerging. You have, to all intents and purposes, the stereotypical and mean-spirited bully; the hit and run commenter whose purpose is to elevate him or herself socially, and to gain a sense of superiority. The fully-armed commenter; the one who likes to linger and watch their victims squirm with their continuous, verbal assault, seem to have no other purpose than to spread their hate far and wide. Perhaps, this is because hate is all they are capable of feeling. The last group is hard to define, but it seems to be comprised of an eclectic assortment of racists, bigots, the amateurish, armchair, political analysts, the quasi-religious, the self-opinionated, the self-righteous, and the apathetic. Quite the melting pot, really.
It’s through comments that we get a sense of the disturbing nature of some people’s minds and lives. Bitterness, anger, apathy and hate come to the forefront, and one has to wonder what has happened to these people. What has occurred in their lives to make them feel so bitter, angry, apathetic and hateful? Are they relating to these stories from personal experience? Do they see themselves mirrored in the accusations they hurl at others? Are they victims or perpetrators themselves, trying to shift the focus from themselves on to others?
We can only speculate, at best, what the motives and reasons behind a comment are, but one thing that can’t be argued is that no matter what the topic or subject is, in the virtual world, everyone is vulnerable. And the terrifying thing is that people can hide behind their anonymity on the internet. No one knows who you are. The person who leaves you one of these comments could be your best friend, next-door neighbor, work colleague, or a member of your own family. Kind of scary isn’t it?
© Valmai Owens, 2011. All Rights Reserved.
No reproduction without permission from author.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Finding Michael
It happened almost the minute I walked off the plane. There was a feeling of familiarity, and of stepping back in time to 2010.
I greeted friends that I had met last year, and met others for the first time. It was wonderful, yet strange to see the faces of those I had only communicated with via the internet and by telephone.
Yes, this was familiar ground to me. Last year, I had left behind a piece of my heart and soul, and I expected to feel the same emotions I had at that time, but I didn’t. I expected to find Michael where I had felt his presence last year, but I didn’t. Instead, I sensed a difference in the air; a difference in me. Perhaps it was because the grief and pain wasn’t quite so raw and new, not so all-consuming. There was silent resignation within me that he had physically departed, and no more would we see the life-force shine from eyes that had on lit up our world. I know deep down inside I had already reached that acceptance long before my trip, but being in that space where Michael had lived and breathed, reinforced it.
I had felt his spirit at Neverland when I made my first journey. The air had held traces of laughter and music, and softly spoken words. Lingering and tangible, I had felt the happiness and peace that had once reigned in this place, and the ground had welcomed me with open arms. But it had been a gift given just for that moment; fleeting and temporary.
My second journey here held nothing of my previous experience. The air was still, as shimmering heat filled the valley. My eyes skimmed over hills, and along the road that led to his home, forever hidden from my view. And I waited with eyes closed for a sense of connection to return, to hear the quiet whispers of yesteryear, but silence hung heavy. This ground was waiting, as was I, for its beloved child to return, because Michael was not here, not this time. I knew that this would be my last visit to Neverland, but I felt no sense of abandonment or disappointment. There was no sadness as I turned my back and walked away, rather, I felt I was being led to find him elsewhere, and I did.
Unexpectedly, I found Michael in the living; in the smiling, happy faces of children eager to share how he had inspired them. Their simple, yet beautiful dot drawings proudly displayed before an audience who bathed in their youthful glow of exuberance. I found Michael in a teacher’s quiet dedication and love, in a principal’s smile, in a parent’s commitment, and in the soft lilt of an Irish tongue. His hand shook, blue eyes clouded as tears filled, and his voice broke as he recalled time spent with Michael. No doubt was left in any of us sitting in that special place that Patrick had truly loved, and dearly missed his friend. A gift was given and a connection made.
Michael was there in the strength and spirituality, and the clear brown eyes of another friend, one whose presence filled the room with light. A soft hand shook ours, and strong arms encircled us; arms that had at one time, wrapped themselves around Michael. Humble and genuine, Jonathan shared precious memories of 33 years, retelling conversations, and expressing feelings openly. We felt drawn to, and held captive in the same space he had shared with Michael. We were there. Another gift given, another connection made, drawing us closer together and to Michael.
He was there in the sparkling waters and gentle waves of a Pacific beach. In the clear blue sky and hot sun, in the cool water as it washed over my feet, and in the quiet company of my companions, I felt Michael’s presence quietly watching, and smiling at the simple pleasure we felt in walking across warm sand, and breathing in salty air.
I found him at Disneyland in the excited laughter of adults and children; in the magic and fantasy so perfectly created for all ages, just as once Michael’s Neverland had been. On a giant screen he came at me in 3D, and he was there in the exhausted silence from having spent a day as that long, lost child of my past. He was there in the fans that waited on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame for their dots to be placed near his heart. Their eyes lit in happiness as cameras clicked, but tears expressed a moment worth more than any picture could capture.
When Jonathan and Alex joined on stage, I found Michael again. He flowed through the music, coming alive once again through the beat of drums and bass guitar. Two men became lost in time, as once again they came together to play for Michael. Absorbed in the rhythm and power of “Earth Song” and “Man in the Mirror”; living it, breathing it, feeling it, they became the music and the music became them. They were not just giving Michael 100%; they were giving him 10,000%, as they always had, as they always would, not because he had demanded it, but because they had loved and respected him too much not to give all of themselves to him and the performance.
Hands clapped, bodies danced, and voices sang. The atmosphere changed, and became energized; charged with electricity. I stood silent, and unable to move as I watched and listened. I kept looking for Michael to appear on the stage with them, but then, I knew he already was. He was inside them. Another gift given, another connection made.
And finally, I found him at Forest Lawn. Not down the cold, dark corridor where his body lay, but in the banners and cards; the gifts and thousands of flowers laid by those who had come to honor his life with their tokens of love. He was there in the hearts of the fans that had gathered. He was there in the hearts and beautiful faces of my friends. He was there in his brother Randy, as he stepped from his car to connect with the fans, and in one special man, who sat with a few us in a quiet moment. A man, who is creating an image of Michael on canvas, joining a world together through magical little dots; a man, who when once he found out that a tiny bug was on his back, asked that it not be harmed or killed when removed. Another gift given, another connection made.
Last year, I told you that a piece of my heart and soul was left behind. This year I left more, and gave pieces of myself to be carried over distances and oceans, scattered, but still connected through a journey shared, through words spoken, memories and silent tears, and warm embraces. I had been touched by something very special and beautiful; a gift given and a connection made; forever changed. I now carry the knowledge and understanding that something bigger and greater than me, than of all of us, is at work here. And that is love.
By Valmai Owens© 2011. All Rights Reserved.
No reproduction without permission from author.
No reproduction without permission from author.
This interview appears in the publication Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael’s Legacy Alive,
http://mjtpmagazine.presspublisher.us/
and its content is the property of the authors and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait. Articles and exclusive interviews are copyrighted; therefore there should be no republication without permission. You may email edito@michaeljacksontributeportrait.com with any requests for republication. If permission is given, credit must be given to the author, Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael's Legacy Alive and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait.
and its content is the property of the authors and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait. Articles and exclusive interviews are copyrighted; therefore there should be no republication without permission. You may email edito@michaeljacksontributeportrait.com with any requests for republication. If permission is given, credit must be given to the author, Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael's Legacy Alive and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait.
2Cellos: An Interview with Stjepan Hauser and Luka Šulić
Before Stjepan Hauser and Luka Šulić of 2Cellos launched themselves onto our collective radar with their energetic and brilliantly executed version of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal,” they were already respected and well-known concert cellists in the classical music world. But one video changed their lives forever and now their careers are moving in different and exciting directions.
In interviewing Stjepan and Luka, I found them both to be delightful, well-grounded young men and artists. They are both exceedingly talented musicians and I have no doubt that we will be hearing a lot more from them in the not-too-distant future.
Valmai: Can you tell us how long you have been playing the cello?
Stjepan: Luka started when he was 5 and me, when I was 8. Now he is 23, and I’m 24.
Valmai: Was the cello your first choice of musical instrument?
Stjepan/Luka: Yes, absolutely, we fell in love with it immediately
Valmai: What made you choose this instrument as opposed to the more popular violin?
Stjepan/Luka: Cello sound is so beautiful and warm, its sound so natural, and it is the closest to the human voice and much more pleasant than the violin!
Valmai: You are both still very young, yet you have played with world-renowned orchestras in some of the most prestigious concert halls around the world, giving outstanding performances. Success like this requires dedication and sacrifice. Can you share some of the sacrifices you have had to make?
Stjepan/Luka: We dedicated our entire lives to cello and music. We were practicing all along and didn´t really have a childhood the way other kids had. We didn't go out much during the high school days either. While other friends were having fun in clubs, we were practicing at home very hard.
Valmai: What have been some of your most memorable concert experiences?
Stjepan/Luka: Every concert is a special and different experience and it is hard to point out any.
Valmai: In January of this year, you posted a self-made video on You Tube of your version of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal.” Can I ask what the inspiration was behind your choice of song?
Stjepan/Luka: We were always huge fans of Michael Jackson, and since we are cello fanatics we wanted to play a song by our biggest hero on the cellos. “Smooth Criminal” is the song that worked out the best from his songs, and we thought it could rock great on the cello!
Valmai: How long have you both been fans of Michael Jackson?
Stjepan/Luka: For the past 3 years.
Valmai: Has Michael Jackson inspired you in other aspects of your musical style and playing as cellists?
Stjepan/Luka: Of course! A lot! His amazing energy, imagination, fantasy and unbelievable unique style and charisma have always been our big inspiration.
Valmai: Was “Smooth Criminal” difficult to play on the cello?
Stjepan/Luka: Extremely! It is, in our opinion, the hardest cello piece ever!
Valmai: To date, your video has received over 5.6 million views and virtually became an overnight success. Did you have any idea it would be this well-received by so many in such a short time?
Stjepan/Luka: We were hoping to receive more attention than usual, but we really didn‘t expect that one week after, Sony, Elton John, Ellen [DeGeneres] and many, many others would contact us! Our life changed overnight.
Valmai: How did it feel to receive a record deal with Sony MASTERWORKS?
Stjepan/Luka: Great! We received deals from many other record companies, but SONY was the best choice!
Valmai: You also received a phone call from Sir Elton John inviting you to tour with him on his European tour this summer. How did you react to this?
Stjepan/Luka: He called on the phone directly, so it was a real surprise and shock! The first time he called, he spoke about his excitement and admiration toward our music. A few hours later, he called again and asked if we would like to tour with him and already mentioned some dates. He was a really, really nice, adorable gentleman.
Valmai: When does the tour begin and what preparations are you making to ready yourselves for it?
Stjepan/Luka: The tour begins in June. We are at the moment finishing our CD. As soon as we finish, we will start preparing for the tour!
Valmai: How does it feel to know you are touring with the legendary Sir Elton John?
Stjepan/Luka: It is an absolutely amazing experience to tour with a living legend, one of the greatest musicians alive. It is an honor and a once-in-a-life-time opportunity.
(Because of the timing of this interview, it was unable to be published for our June 1, issue. The 2Cellos have now been on tour with Sir Elton John for almost six weeks.)
Valmai: On April 25, you appeared on an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. What was that experience like for you and how did it feel playing “Smooth Criminal” before millions of viewers?
Luka: It was a crazy experience. The first time we played, we played with so much adrenaline and energy that Stjepan broke his bow!! The audience went wild! Then he ran off the stage to take a spare bow that he never played on before. Then we did it again, a bit cooler!
Valmai: Within a four-month period starting from the time you first posted your video on You Tube, you have signed a record deal, will tour with one of the greatest artists of our time and appeared on national television with one of the USA’s most famous and popular talk-show hosts. Has rising to stardom in such a short time affected you in any way?
Stjepan/Luka: Not at all! We are the same humble guys from before. We are not spoiled and we want to stay that way!
Valmai: Are you aware that Sony has blocked the original video you posted in January? If so, can you share the reasons for this?
Stjepan/Luka: We are aware. It is because they have to put all the videos they own through the VEVO channel. So now it is on 2CellosVEVO's Channel.
Valmai: Your debut album, available in July, will feature covers of Guns N' Roses, Sting, U2 and Nirvana songs. That is an eclectic genre! Are you fans of all of those artists as well?
Stjepan/Luka: Well, at first we were only MJ fans and that is why we started with “Smooth Criminal.” We were always very into classical music before and didn‘t even know many of the artists and songs that we are recording now. Everything happened and changed so quickly, and we are getting to know more and more music we didn‘t know existed. From bands, we like AC/DC and U2.
Valmai: Will “Smooth Criminal” also be included on your debut album? Have you any plans to record more of Michael Jackson’s music?
Stjepan/Luka: Of course! There is also one more of his songs on the album and in the future we will do more!
Valmai: What comes next for you after the album is released and you have completed your tour with Sir Elton John?
Stjepan/Luka: There is a concert: the iTunes Festival on 25 July in London, and straight after that we go to the USA to do more TV shows and promote our record everywhere. Then our tours begin!
Valmai: Stjepan and Luka, thank you so much for answering my questions. I wish you all the best for your upcoming tour and the release of your debut album, both of which I am sure will be a huge success.
Stjepan/Luka: Thank you very much! All the best!
2Cellos "Smooth Criminal"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjOQac1vOEc&feature=player_embedded
http://stjepanhauser.webs.com/biography.htm
http://www.lukasulic.net/Luka_Sulic_Cellist/biography.html
By Valmai Owens© 2011. All Rights Reserved.
No reproduction without permission from author.
No reproduction without permission from author.
This interview appears in the publication Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael’s Legacy Alive,
http://mjtpmagazine.presspublisher.us/
and its content is the property of the authors and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait. Articles and exclusive interviews are copyrighted; therefore there should be no republication without permission. You may email edito@michaeljacksontributeportrait.com with any requests for republication. If permission is given, credit must be given to the author, Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael's Legacy Alive and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait.
and its content is the property of the authors and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait. Articles and exclusive interviews are copyrighted; therefore there should be no republication without permission. You may email edito@michaeljacksontributeportrait.com with any requests for republication. If permission is given, credit must be given to the author, Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael's Legacy Alive and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait.
A Tree Grows Here
Trees. They are an ancient source of wisdom and knowledge to mystics and followers of the old ways. The old ones have stood for countless years as strong sentinels, protecting the secrets and truth of ages past. Sheltering and nurturing new life, their roots spread wide and deep into the ground, to anchor against the storms that nature brings. Branches may fall; they may snap from the strength of prevailing winds, but the body remains strong and ready to regenerate new limbs in the calm that follows.
It is an endless cycle of growth and rebirth; an example of strength, persistence and fortitude and it can be likened to this community. We are the limbs of a tree whose roots are firmly planted in the legacy one special man left behind. We guard and protect his legacy of truth and love and justice, of selfless giving and of humbleness, of the artistry of his music and dance. And we carry his voice of change within us.
We fight against the disease of injustice that helped to destroy him, and against the hatred, jealousy and self-service that grows amongst us. We can prune those branches who serve no other purpose than to leech nutrients from the soil in which we grow. And some branches will fall when the winds are too strong for their lightness of being to withstand.
But new life grows and will continue to do so. Our branches will keep spreading and injustice will be righted. The truth of this man will become known to all through our words, our actions and the music of his life. He planted a seed and watered it with love, and now a tree grows here in our hearts. A tree grows here!
What Brought Us Here?
What brought us here to this place where we stand?
Was it the melody sung or the poem penned during sleepless nights?
Or was it that first whisper where consciousness floated to a single awareness?
We felt it trace the outline of our thoughts
Skimming across indifference and careless disregard
Eyes and ears opened
And when the whisper gave birth to the voice
We heard, we saw, we felt the shift to a place outside ourselves
Eyes viewed a different world
Our slumber was over and we had awoken to a new reality
Ears heard an age-old message
One now sung upon the pages of history
Through the lyrics of one life
A life filled with the joy of living
Of children and laughter
Of the pain of betrayal
In service to others through unselfish love
Of dance and song
Change came to us
And we embraced it
Cradled and protected within newfound knowledge
So, what brought us here to this place where we stand?
A man the color of hope
A man the shape of love
A man carrying a powerful truth
Gone is the body, but his voice will never be silenced
Because we, now speak his message
By Valmai Owens© 2011. All Rights Reserved.
No reproduction without permission from author.
No reproduction without permission from author.
This interview appears in the publication Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael’s Legacy Alive,
http://mjtpmagazine.presspublisher.us/
and its content is the property of the authors and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait. Articles and exclusive interviews are copyrighted; therefore there should be no republication without permission. You may email edito@michaeljacksontributeportrait.com with any requests for republication. If permission is given, credit must be given to the author, Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael's Legacy Alive and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait.
and its content is the property of the authors and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait. Articles and exclusive interviews are copyrighted; therefore there should be no republication without permission. You may email edito@michaeljacksontributeportrait.com with any requests for republication. If permission is given, credit must be given to the author, Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael's Legacy Alive and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait.
Interview with Cadeflaw
In 2009, not long after the death of Michael Jackson, a group of women met on through a Michael Jackson community, on Amazon.com. They found they had many things in common, including a deep concern for how Michael had been unfairly portrayed throughout his life by the media. Realizing the impact this would have on his legacy, they banded together and formed the idea to try and have a law passed in California that would make it illegal to defame the dead. Cadeflaw was born.
In this interview, Lauren and I spoke with several Cadeflaw members. It came as no surprise to either of us to learn that they have conducted intelligent research into what is needed to have a law like this passed, and their organization is well-structured. They are also 100% committed and dedicated to seeing this project through to the end.
Valmai: Could you tell us how and when Cadeflaw was formed, and how you initially came to be involved in this project? Obviously Michael was the main inspiration behind it, but were there other factors?
Karen: Back in 2009, when Michael passed away, quite a few people (myself included), had a really hard time with his death. We really didn’t know what to do with our grief. We found a group on an Amazon thread called, “Why are we still crying about Michael Jackson?” Through that thread I met a lot of wonderful people. We talked back and forth, while holding our hearts on our sleeves for Michael.
Everybody wanted vindication for Michael, and I happened to see an article that you had written, called Truth vs. Sensationalism, which really sparked something in my heart. Mary Brookins and I spoke, and we decided if we wanted to do something, we had to stand up and do it now. If we got enough support, we were going to try to file a class action suit against the media. I contacted my attorney, and I was told that a class action suit was not going to handle the problem.
I gave that information to Mary, and we decided to attempt an anti-defamation effort. Mary prepared The Michael Jackson Legacy Anti-Defamation Law to present to California legislators.
Mary: Initially, it was Michael, but we believe it’s wrong to defame the character of any deceased person. They can’t defend themselves—and my personal mission is to help those left behind who suffer emotionally and financially, to protect and preserve the legacy of their loved ones. I think this law will provide them with that.
Defamation offends the deceased's relatives; it exposes the family to public hatred, contempt, ridicule; it blackens the memory of their loved ones; and it provokes a breach of peace between people. That’s what drives me to be active and to stay active with this.
Jennifer: Yes. I came across this idea, and I put some deep thought into it. I wanted to see what the ladies were doing. I thought that this would be something I would be very blessed and proud to be a part of.
It’s not just Michael; there are other stars who have passed away that the media have done this to also—perhaps not on the same scale, but it hurts me to see this. So that’s why I am here.
Valmai: Well, that’s how the tabloids/media-loids earn their ratings and make their money, not just in California, but everywhere. In California, the star capital of the world, they have a well-spring of celebrities at which to point their cameras and write about, truthfully or not. They expose people’s private lives on magazine covers, on TV, in newspapers, and on the Internet. I know these people are still alive, but the legacy they will leave behind will be tainted.
Barbara: Part of that is that we have allowed the media to go too far. We enabled them, and they have no regard for anyone, including children.
Valmai: Yes, and like you said, we have enabled them; we have allowed them to get this far, and somewhere we have to take responsibility for that.
Barbara: Yes, we are making poor decisions about our medicine, what to purchase, what schools to send our children to—everything that involves our lives—off of their misinformation. Because we don’t stand up to them, they continue to do it, and they continue to use the First Amendment and the Shield laws to protect themselves.
Valmai: Karen, we understand that you went to California last year, and met with Tom Mesereau. Can you tell us what his advice was?
Karen: I was going to California in October, 2010, to visit my daughter, who is in the military. I decided I was going to see Tom Mesereau while I was there. I got in touch with his office and after a number of calls, Mr. Mesereau called me and we set up an appointment in November, 2010.
Mr. Mesereau is the most eloquent, elegant man I have ever met. He was extremely kind, and he gave me 45 minutes of his time free of charge. He was kind enough to look through our anti-defamation law petition. At that time, he noticed that there were a few things that needed to be changed in the wording of the petition letter. He advised me that he is a criminal defense attorney, not a defamation attorney, which of course, I understood. He did, in fact, change some of the wording, and we had a very nice conversation. Mr. Mesereau gave me his phone number, and told me if he could help in anyway, he would talk to us at any time. He is very much a proponent for the First Amendment, which we are not trying to change. What we are trying to do is change what is now the law in California, which states:
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 1. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS
SECTION 2. (a) Every person may freely speak, write and publish his or her sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of this right. A law may not restrain or abridge liberty of speech or press.
And, this is what we’re going for—the abuse of that right.
I did go to another attorney when I was in California, Mr. Michael Harris of Rogers and Harris, Esq. He handled the defamation case for the Errol Flynn family for his Estate. He agreed with Mr. Mesereau that it would be a challenge to attempt an anti-defamation law, because as it stands, a deceased person cannot be defamed. He recommended, as Mr. Mesereau did, that we retain a constitutional attorney.
When I returned from California, I gave all this information to Ms. Brookins, and she prepared the Cadeflaw Petition, which is the baby of the Anti-Defamation Petition.
We don’t want to stop freedom of speech. I served in Vietnam, my husband served in Vietnam, my daughter has been in the Gulf wars; I do know what freedom of speech is. Nobody’s asking to curtail freedom of speech. What we are asking for is accountability for its abuse. This is not just about Michael Jackson. We use Michael’s name, but it has to be for every man, woman, and child.
Lauren: Did you do any research on any previous efforts in regards to this issue? Apparently, there was a similar case in New York that came close to passing, but didn’t. Did you take a look at that case at all?
Mary: Yes, we’ve done quite a bit of research. The New York case was in 1987. It involved a young, black teenager who accused a New York police officer, and a State Trooper, of a racist attack; a rape.
The gentlemen maintained their innocence, and the police officer who was implicated, committed suicide. In fact, he wasn’t implicated until after he committed suicide. The Grand Jury in New York ultimately rejected the teenager’s claim. The reputations of the men were completely destroyed, as well as the memory of the deceased officer. The New York Assembly pushed for a posthumous defamation law, which was supported by Mario Cuomo, the Governor at that time. The Assembly encountered a lot of negative feedback from news organizations and the media. The communication industry found a way to stop the proposal for the law, and there was no attempt made to re-enact the proposal. There were many more cases, but the law was never changed. That just gives me more incentive to keep this ball moving, and to do everything in my power to get a law passed, because it’s time something was done.
Valmai: Do you know what other states have a law like this?
Mary: Colorado, Idaho, Georgia, Louisiana, and Nevada.
Lauren: And has anybody made contact with a group(s) that might have been successful in those states?
Mary: My hope is that more people might support this, and help in doing the work and research that needs to be done. No one gets paid to do this, and you have to be very special to be a part of a group like this, because it’s going to take a lot of hard work.
Valmai: Is the petition, or proposal, modeled after another one in particular? Who would actually draft it? Would an attorney have to do that?
Mary: Not necessarily. Barbara Owens did a marvelous job writing the petition letter that we posted on our site, and we have a young lady from Southern California, Julie Noel, who is an attorney, and who has expressed interest in writing this bill. We don’t have a model yet.
Lauren: How do you see the anti-defamation law co-existing with the First Amendment?
Mary: It can co-exist very well, absolutely. Look at California’s Article 1, Section 2. This law would not attempt to restrain, or abridge the liberty of speech. When we defame the character of a deceased person, it affects their descendants, the people who are left behind. By proxy, through an Estate, there is an obligation to sustain the US Government, and an Estate can sue be sued. A deceased's civil rights are being violated because, as in Section 1, any opinion that does not reflect the truth should be considered abusive, harmful, and offensive. Defamation of the deceased therefore interferes with the enjoyment, happiness, and one's inalienable rights. It says the same thing in the Constitution. So, it would exist very well with the First Amendment. Say, write or speak what you want, but one must be held accountable, and if you cannot prove what you are saying is the truth, then the family should have an opportunity to bring an appropriate lawsuit or cause of action on behalf of themselves and the deceased person.
Lauren: How would you define defamation? Who would decide what defamation is, and what is not?
Mary: There are things said about others that are absolutely true, and if you’ve done your research and can prove your statement, then it is not defamation. It is defamation when you can’t provide proof for your statement.
While I’m alive, I can challenge the untruth, but if I’m deceased, my children should have a right to file suit against you, because what you are doing is blackening my memory. I deserve to have my legacy preserved and protected. If no one else is going to try and change that, then we are.
Valmai: If there were such a law, would it only be the family who could sue?
Mary: No. As far as the guidelines are concerned, an Estate should have the right to file a posthumous law suit. Once a person passes, the Estate may have an opportunity to earn money, and continue to be financed. If the deceased is defamed to such an extent that people will not purchase any material associated with that person, then that adversely affects the heirs. For example: there are those who will have nothing to do with Michael Jackson, because they absolutely believe everything the media has said in the past, and continues to now. The masses receive their information from the media, and if the masses choose to believe the untruths published by the media and other sources that may not be credible: this could rob the estate and heirs of income that might have been earned. Michael Jackson left behind three children and elderly parents, who may have in the past, and are still now, dependent upon his estate for their financial support.
Lauren: What about the issue of financial damages? Public media enjoys the financial gain from the defamation of a person through stories, lies, innuendo, etc. Perhaps the only thing they would understand is a financial penalty?
Mary: It may be too early to address that issue. Once the law is passed, any financial damages would be decided by the court. I would think it would apply to the media, or anyone who denied a person’s civil rights, living or deceased.
Valmai: Can you outline the steps needed to put this law into place?
Jennifer: Obviously, it begins with the idea; the bill must be written and needs an author. Once written, it would be sent to the Legislative Council in California. There are two houses in that state, the Senate and the Assembly. Depending on which legislator authored the bill, it would go to that house first. It takes 30 days to pass, and then it is forwarded to the Rules of Committee, presented, and testimony is heard in support or opposition. There is then a hearing, where the bill is read three times. The bill can be passed, defeated, or it can be amended. Then it would go back to that house, and the process is repeated.
It is then presented to the other house, and the above steps would be repeated again. If the bill passes both houses, it goes to the Governor. The Governor has three choices: he can sign the bill, allow it to become law without his/her signature, or he/she can veto it. If it becomes law, it is given a chapter number by the Secretary of State.
Valmai: If the Governor decides to veto the bill, can it be re-introduced?
Jennifer: Yes. If a percentage of both Houses, which I believe is two-thirds, votes for it, the Governor’s veto can be overridden. Then, it would go into effect the first day of January of the following year.
Lauren: Have you contacted any legislators in California?
Barbara: We prepared a list of all the Senators and Assembly members; addresses, phone numbers and their e-mail addresses; we have contacted them, and expect to have more response once we have more California residents involved. We need more ‘foot soldiers’ willing to present petitions and request signatures from registered California voters. Online signatures would support the written petition.
Valmai: Do you know how many California residents are involved at the moment?
Mary: I’m not sure exactly; I think about fifteen Californians has signed the change.org petition, but we need more. Many have signed the initial online petition, but there is no way to contact them. The petition site is not allowed to give out information about endorsers, except the name they gave, and the geographical area they posted.
Jennifer: It weighs more having a written petition rather than an online petition, in California. The written one with actual signatures, which I have—and my job out here is to get people involved—has about thirty signatures on it.
Barbara: We do have people in California signing the online petition, but what we really need are more foot soldiers like Jennifer, to circulate the petition and get handwritten signatures.
Jennifer: Yes, that is a huge part, because California voters have to sign the petition for it to be passed.
Valmai: So, it’s not the quantity of signatures so much as it is how many of those who have signed the petition live in the State of California.
Jennifer: Correct, but the online petition showing the support we have in California, also makes a difference.
Valmai: Would you see this as the biggest stumbling block in getting this law put in place? How are you going to get support from California residents?
Jennifer: That actually is the hard part. I need to get more people here involved; get a team together locally—and in Los Angeles specifically, and also throughout California—that can help to get signatures and spread the word. We need signatures and we need support.
Valmai: There has to be a lot of Michael Jackson supporters in California, surely?
Jennifer: Yes, there are—but we need dedicated people fans or non-fans, because this isn’t just about Michael Jackson. Obviously, we are going to get more support from his fans, but we need people who are really dedicated because it takes a lot of time to go out and get these signatures, spread the word, and make contact with different media. That’s the hard part, finding people who will take this upon themselves and show up when I need them to.
Valmai: I guess I do not understand why some fans aren’t giving this their support.
Sharon: Keep in mind, not everyone responded to Michael in the same way. Not all fans or supporters see the same need as we do.
The stumbling block in getting support begins with the heavy burden of Michael’s image. The media still blacken his name, though perhaps not as badly as in the past. Some are a little more subtle about it these days.
When you come up to a group, go to work, or go to church or wherever and begin to discuss what we are doing, people say, “Yes, we’ve heard about this. This is for Michael Jackson.” So then you have to explain that this is inspired by Michael, but not necessarily just for him, and no, Michael did not do this, Michael did not do that. This is where the other Michael Jackson supporters come in: those who are spending time attempting to educate the public on what did and did not happen, and those who are rebutting negative articles. It takes support from a lot of different directions to make this happen.
And quite honestly, some people aren’t there as much now. One-third of the United States has been devastated by storms, so people’s minds are more on survival, on losing their jobs, and their husbands are screaming at them for gawking at Michael for the last 2 years, so, there are all kinds of reasons why there is not as great a support now. And there are still also a lot of fans who are more prone to fan-sy—type reading rather than advocacy forums, so some of these fans just do not know what we are doing.
Valmai: Yes, but it still makes it harder for you finding those dedicated people you need.
Sharon: Yes, yes it does.
I would also like to address something you brought up about the First Amendment and whether the anti- defamation law could co-exist with it. When we first drafted the law, one of the things that came up immediately was that people would not support it because it violates the First Amendment. That is an excuse. 50 states already have an anti-defamation law in place for the living, and one in five, for the dead. Our one happens to be new for just this particular state.
When defamation takes life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and your ability to earn revenue—and in case of people who are gone, those whose products or family will be earning revenue—that ability may be hindered because of false stories about their loved ones.
Lauren: This question has to do with the web and social media sites. Do you see the dissemination of information the way it is now versus 5 or 10 years ago as being helpful to this cause? And another question I would like you think about is, say this was passed as a law. It would only apply to people who lived and died in California, and it would only apply to what comes out of this state or what is said in this state. You could go to Nevada and say what you wanted. Because of how information is spread now, how would this affect in any great way either Michael or anyone who happens to be in California?
Sharon: When we get this law passed for the State of California—with primarily Michael being the inspiration, and also there being so many people of wealth and fame who really seem to get hammered by what is put out by the media in this state—it will empower people. More of them will stand up and begin to address issues inside and outside of their state.
Hopefully, this law will become U.S. wide. There is no reason why anyone should be able to profit by lying or deceiving viewers and readers who are taking in information and using it to make judgments and decisions. These people get away with this without suffering the consequences, and they have to be responsible for their actions. Once we get this passed, and it will take awhile, it might get picked up by another state. Hopefully, there will be multiple groups in each state looking at what’s happening in California, and they might say, “Okay, if they can get this done there,we can do it in Iowa.”
Valmai: There are a lot fans and non-fans, who are angry with the media and their continuous slander, particularly toward Michael. Do you plan to tap into that?
Mary: Even though many are angry, most do not understand the importance of this law and what it means. I think a lot of people believe their First Amendment rights will be infringed upon, so we have to educate people on what this law is about. Hopefully, in doing this interview, and through the one we did with Billy Johnson from Yahoo! Music, we can get the word out there.
My question to people is, are you angry enough to be moved to action? Are you angry enough to get up and do something about it, not just talk about it?
We tweet a lot to get the word out, and one of our main tweets is, stop the abuse of the First Amendment rights. Don’t allow people to hide behind this amendment to promote hate. We ask people to visit our website and watch our video, then tweet about it. So, we are hoping to get those who say they’re angry, to move toward action with us.
Valmai: That’s a good answer and a very good question also.
Lauren: Have you contacted, or had any support from Michael’s friends or family? Is the estate aware of what you are doing?
Mary: Absolutely! There are a lot of names on the first petition that we’re not familiar with,because used their fan monikers, and this gave us concern. That’s why we changed the petition so that people would have to give their real names. Teddy Riley, an American singer-songwriter, musician, keyboardist and record producer, signed the petition in all caps, as if he wanted the world to know he had signed it. He has also tweeted and retweeted about Cadeflaw. We have the support of Dr. Patrick Treacy, a cosmetic physician and humanitarian from Dublin, Ireland; Charles Thomson, freelance writer/reporter specializing in music and celebrity journalism; Billy Johnson, music director, freelance writer for many media outlets, and presently Senior Program Director-Urban/Video Programming Lead for Yahoo Music, and Lynton Guest, freelance writer for magazines/newspapers, singer and author of several books, including the Trials of Michael Jackson.
Jennifer Batten, guitarist, songwriter and producer who worked with Michael for many years, supports Cadeflaw and the petition, and we’ve had many tweets and retweets by Genevieve Jackson [Michael's niece], and Omer Bhatti, singer and friend of Michael Jackson. Cadeflaw has been retweeted by Akon and Billy Johnson. Billy doesn’t claim to be a friend of the family. He is a major media source from California who has been around for awhile, but he does support the entire family.
I’m pretty sure, with Genevieve and Omer tweeting about us, that the family is aware of what we are doing. I have also notified the estate in several ways. I have faxed, emailed and sent a registered letter to John Branca about what we are doing, and I have also sent a registered letter to Katherine Jackson. From John Branca’s office, I received a signed certified receipt noting the letter had been delivered. A registered letter sent to Mrs. Katherine Jackson at the Hayvenhurst address in Encino, was not returned, but no signed return receipt has been received as of yet. However, no one can say they have no knowledge of this project because they do. We haven’t had a response to either letter, but they are aware of it. We have also been sending tweets to Jermaine, Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Randy, La Toya and Janet Jackson since November of 2010. Since we all follow these Jackson family members, we know they have observed our tweets.
Valmai: You are now a registered, nonprofit corporation, and you are able to collect donations. Can you tell us what this money will be used for?
Jennifer: Well, we will pretty much use the money for whatever is needed to get this law passed. Most of the money will go, hopefully in the future, toward a Constitutional attorney. Having an attorney is the key, so the rest of the money will go toward anything else we need to get the law passed. And when it’s over, if there is anything left over, obviously it will go to charity.
Mary: In California, it will cost between $30,000 and $50,000, to hire a Constitutional attorney, so that is why our goal is $50,000; but whatever it takes, that’s what we will do.
Valmai: Is this $50,000 just to retain an attorney, and start him or her working on this?
Mary: No, that’s for the entire process from beginning to end.
People may think I am a dreamer, but I work what I dream, and I am hoping that an attorney might come forward, say that he likes what we are doing, that he believes in it, and that he will do this for free.
Lauren: I would just like to ask a question that goes back a little bit. In California, we have what they call, the Initiative process. Have you looked into that, or has it been mentioned at all?
Jennifer: I am aware of it, but, no, I haven’t mentioned it.
Lauren: There are a number of laws here in California that are passed just on the number of signatures gained from the population. In any of your discussions with legal experts, have any of them mentioned this Initiative process? Is this another route you could take?
Jennifer: It is another route, yes, and it’s something that we need to go into more depth with. Basically, if you have enough signatures, you can pretty much get it done. In California, that's 8% of active voters, which I believe is at least 400,000 people.
Valmai: How are you going to collect donations? Will you set up a PayPal account?
Mary: We already have a PayPal account, and we also have an account with a bank in Florida. So, all people have to do, is go to our website at www.cadeflaw.com to make their donation. They can either use their real name or donate anonymously.
Lauren: It sounds like a lot of money, but it is possible to raise that much. Last year there was a push to develp a garden for Michael at the museum where he was inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame. Though the project fell through, there was an anonymous donor who gave $20,000 toward the garden. So, how can we help in this effort? What can we do?
Jennifer: Well, you are actually already helping by doing this interview. Its helping us get the word out first of all, and by doing that, it’s drawing attention to what we are doing. That’s really what we need right now: attention through social networks, different websites, and the media to make more people aware and offer their support.
Valmai: Is there anything anybody wants to add?
Mary: Yes. I just want thank you Ms. Owens and Ms. Trainor, for giving us this opportunity, for believing in us, and for supporting us. God bless you.
Valmai: Well, thank you, Mary. Anything that we can do to help get the word out there, we will do it.
Beginning in August, Cadeflaw will have a permanent column in this publication in which they keep us updated on their progress, and ways in which you can offer your help and support.
If you live in California, and have the time and dedication to assist Jennifer Marino in gathering signatures for the written petition, please email her at unitedinluv@yahoo.com
You can also find her on Twitter under All4LoveJen
For more information about Cadeflaw and to offer your support or to make a donation, please visit these sites:
Website: http://www.cadeflaw.com/
Blogspot: http://lovemeansactionformichaeljackson.blogspot.com/?spref=tw
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/California-Legacy-Anti-Defamation-Law/165053683513202?ref=ts
Petition Sites:
Cadeflaw Italian Petition: Guilia Passaro
http://www.petizionionline.it/petizione/protect-and-preserve-the-legacy-of-those-deceased-proteggiamo-e-preserviamo-leredita-dei-defunti/4300
Cadeflaw US Petition
http://www.change.org/petitions/protect-and-preserve-the-legacy-of-those-deceased-those-left-behind-can-still-be-hurt
Initial Cadeflaw Petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/MJJ2010/petition.html
Information on the California Constitution, Article 1: Declaration of Rights:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.const/.article_1
Information on the California State Assembly, legislative procedure:
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/clerk/billslegislature/Leg_Proceedure.pdf
Promotional Video #1: http://youtu.be/ndND5pNv7UY Cadeflaw Advocates, 2010
By Valmai Owens© 2011. All Rights Reserved.
No reproduction without permission from author.
No reproduction without permission from author.
This interview appears in the publication Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael’s Legacy Alive,
http://mjtpmagazine.presspublisher.us/
and its content is the property of the authors and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait. Articles and exclusive interviews are copyrighted; therefore there should be no republication without permission. You may email edito@michaeljacksontributeportrait.com with any requests for republication. If permission is given, credit must be given to the author, Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael's Legacy Alive and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait.
and its content is the property of the authors and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait. Articles and exclusive interviews are copyrighted; therefore there should be no republication without permission. You may email edito@michaeljacksontributeportrait.com with any requests for republication. If permission is given, credit must be given to the author, Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael's Legacy Alive and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait.
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